The Information Content of Spectral Vegetation Indices in the Interpretation of Satellite Images of Cultivated Fields

Abstract

Abstract—The results of satellite monitoring of vegetation on unused agricultural lands during the growing season of 2018 are presented. Sod fields of different ages (2, 7, and 20 years) and bare fallows on the land used by the Krasnoyarsk Research Institute of Agriculture were the objects of the study. Satellite data with high spatial resolution (Sentinel-2 Earth remote sensing satellites) at the pre-processing Level-1C (https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/) were used for the interpretation of sod field and fallow images. These data were used to calculate the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalized Difference Soil Index (NDSI). Algorithms and software for the processing of Sentinel-2 satellite data were developed. The possibility of using NDVI dynamics for assessment and monitoring of the condition of sod fields and bare fallows has been demonstrated. The applicability of the NDSI soil index for assessment of the status of arable land has been demonstrated.